Who would ring a doorbell in the dead of night?


    Quinn hit the bell three times before the door finally creaked open. Same nanny as before, still pulling on her clothes as she shuffled to the gate. "Who are you?" the nanny asked, squinting.


    Quinn winged it. "I''m the neighbor next door."


    The nanny''s eyes narrowed, like she was trying to remember who lived next door. She''d only been here two months and hadn''t seen any neighbors. So, she kinda half-bought Quinn''s story.


    Quinn''s innocent look and the kid in her arms helped her case a bit.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    But it was sote, the nanny was still skeptical. Who knocks on a neighbor''s door at this hour?


    She didn''t open the gate and asked, "What do you need?"


    Quinn said, "Power''s out at my ce. Wanted to see if you guys have power."


    The nanny nced back at the lit-up living room, the answer obvious.


    Quinn saw it too and quickly added, "Oh, looks like it''s just a tripped breaker. Sorry to bother you sote."


    Seeing Quinn wasn''t trying toe in, the nanny rxed. "It''s okay. Call property management to fix it."


    "I know. Just moved in, not familiar with the ce yet. Do you live here? We''ll be neighbors," Quinn said warmly.


    "No, I work here as a housekeeper. Not the owner," the nanny replied.


    Quinn nodded. "Is Mr. Lynch home?" she asked, ncing at the namete.


    Remembering Alexander''s instructions, the nanny shook her head and smiled. "He''s not here and rarelyes back."


    "That''s a bummer. Wanted to visit him tomorrow," Quinn said, looking disappointed.


    The nanny gave an awkward smile. "Sorry about that. You should go back and call property management. It''s cold out, don''t catch a chill." Quinn nodded, said goodbye, and turned to leave.


    As she passed the neighboring vi, she stopped and peeked inside.


    After a moment, she had a sudden idea and rang the doorbell.


    No response.


    She rang it twice more, still nothing. Maybe no one lived here?


    Then, she rang it several more times.


    On the tenth ring, she heard movement inside and bolted with Sprout.


    The person who came out saw nothing and, thinking they''d seen a ghost, quickly went back inside.


    Quinn ran back to Susan''s house. She put Sprout on the bed and pulled out her phone to search for properties in the neighborhood. Some were for sale, but not the house next door. Just then, an agent messaged her, and she replied right away.


    She said she wanted to buy a house, but it was currently upied.


    The agent said he could negotiate, but buying a house here needed proof of funds and a deposit to start negotiations.


    Quinn set up a meeting with him for 9 AM the next morning.


    They swapped numbers, and Quinn stopped looking at properties.


    She stared into the dark night outside, lost in thought.


    Alexander hadn''t been particrly cold to her before. From their chats, it was clear those after Alexander didn''t pay her much mind.